Device for slackening and tightening stats



(No Model.)

J. B. W001).

DEVICE FOR SLAOKENING AND TIGHTENING- STAYS, GUYS, 8m.

INIVENTOR 916M #6. M,

Patented May 2, 1882.

WITNESSES:

BY A

ATTORNEY Unrrnn STATES- PATENT Orrrca.

JOHN'B. WOOI), OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARY MANROSS WOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR SLACKENINGAND TIGHTENING STAYS, GUYS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,263, dated May 2, 1882.

Application filed March 24, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beitknown that I, JOHN B. WOOD, of Brooklyn, Kings county, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Device for Tightening and Slaokening Shrouds, Stays, Guys, 850.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, making part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in a device for tightening and slackenin g shrouds, stays, guys, and other ropes and lines that require to be at times slackened and at others tightened; and the invention consists in a device for tightening and slackening shrouds, stays, guys, &c., constructed with two jointed levers, one of said levers being slotted and having within the slot a crosshead, to which is fixed the upper end of a clevis or shackle, all combined, arranged, and operated in the manner more particularly hereinafter described.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

' Figure 1 is a side view of device in'its closed position, keeping the shroud taut; Fig. 2, a side view of device open, with shroud slack; Fig. 3, a 'front edge view of device closed and cross-head; Fig. 4, a detail of cross-head perspective. a

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

It is frequently necessary to temporarily displace some of the shrouds or stays on ves sels, particularly when taking in or discharging cargo, that no obstruction will be offered to the free loading or unloading of the cargo and with shrouds and stays as they are ordinarily secured, especially when wire ropes are used, it is not an easy matter to detach their.

ends for the purpose of temporarily removing them from the sides of the vessel. To facilitate such removal, and at the same time enablethe shrouds or stays to be again quickly set up, I construct a device consisting of two levers, A and B. These levers are by a rulejoint, a, united together at their lower ends, so that the edges of these levers may be close together parallel with each other, (see Fig. 1,)

orbe opened outward nearly in prolongation of each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the lever A is formed with an eye, I), and to this lever, near its upper end, is pivoted a shackle, C.

In the lever B is made a slot, D, and into this slot is fitted a cross-head, E, to which cross-head, by means of screw-nuts 0, are secured the upper ends of a clevis or shackle, F, and to this clevis or shackle is attached a chain, H, and hook I.

Now, when my device is constructed substantially as above described, it is operated in this wise: The lower end of the shroud, stay, or guy G is passed through the eye I) and there made fast in any suitable manner. This end of the shroud or stay so secured should extend to within three or four feetof the deck of the vessel, the lever B then being opened from the lever A, as shown in Fig. 2. The hook I is made fast to a ring bolt or strap in the deck or bulwark or other place. The lever B is next turned up parallel to and against the lever A, and the shackle 0 turned over the end of the lever B, keeping the levers A and B rigidly in place. The shroud or stay will then be taut and in position. Now, to temporarily detach the lower end of this shroud or stay for any purpose it is simply necessary to turn up the shackle 0, thereby releasing the upper end of the lever B, and turn down the lever so released until it is brought, down nearly in prolongation of the lever A, as shown in Fig. 2, and as the lever B is in this way opened and brought down the cross-head E is forced to travel to the end cl of the slot D, and thereby slacken the shroud or stay to which the device is attached to an extent equal to the distance from the pivot of the rule-joint a to the end d of the slot D, thereby enabling the hook I to be detached from the eyebolt or strap into which it is hooked.

The tightening of the shroud or stay before described is effected by the force exerted by the lever B when it is brought from its extended to its closed position, carrying with it the slack of the shroud and chain, and caus- 5 ing the cross-head to follow in the slot D to the end 6, and remain in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. t

It is to be understood that the device consisting of the levers A and B and the other parts described are fixtures to, and in fact form part of, the shrouds or stays to which they are secured, it constituting a yielding joint, substantially, that enables the speedy 5 tightening or slackening of the shrouds in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for adjusting shrouds, stays, guys, &c., consisting of two hinged levers, in combination with a slot and traveling crosshead, to which cross-head is fixed a clevis, substantially as and for the purpose shown i and described.

2. In a device for adjusting shrouds, stays, guys, 850., the combination of two hinged levers with a pivoted shackle, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

3. In a device for adjusting shrouds, stays, guys, 850., a sliding cross-head, in combination with two hinged levers, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

JOHN B. WOOD.

Witnesses CHAS..E. SIMMs, Jr, G. M. PLYMPTON. 

